MAKERS UK Breakthrough: Natasha Murray

MAKERS UK is proud to launch #MAKERSBreakthrough, an initiative to keep gender diversity at the top of the agenda and ignite change in advertising by showcasing stories of women in the industry that have broken through the glass ceiling. Committed to their dedication on the subject, MAKERS collaborated with Women in Advertising and Communications London (WACL) at their annual Gather conference to speak to some well known leaders. Together, MAKERS interviewed 10 WACL members who revealed their personal experiences, including their biggest challenges and any motivational advice they can offer to young aspirational women who are striving for success.

Get to Know Natasha Murray, Managing Director, Havas Media UK

Natasha boasts two decades of industry experience and has worked for Havas Media since 2000. She joined the agency as a Media Manager from Rapp Media where she was planning & buying for clients such as NSPCC, RSPCA and M&S Financial Services.

Since then, she has held roles including Head of Media and Head of Client Service within Havas Media and has worked across clients including Orange, BBC, TUI Travel, The National Lottery, Birds Eye, EDF Energy, Hyundai/Kia and Pernod Ricard UK.

Her focus as Managing Director is on shaping the company into a media and marketing business that builds long term and trusted business partner client relationships. With client centricity, collaboration and creativity at the heart of Havas Media, alongside their clients, other partner agencies and media owners, Natasha and her team work to deliver the agencies belief in meaningful connections between people and brands for business success. This involves ensuring that the agency continues to innovate in the data, technology and content space, as well as integrating the most recent ‘Meaningful Brands’ research into the agency’s offering.

In 2015 Natasha launched the agency's Manchester office to create the first ever Havas Village in the UK. Although based in the London office, Natasha is a frequent visitor to the 'Northern Powerhouse' and will be moving the agency into new premises mid 2016.

As the 'The Home of Meaningful Brands,' Natasha is passionate about ensuring that Havas Media's belief in meaningfulness for its clients is reflected within the agency itself. She was integral in the launch of the agency’s #meaningfulplacetowork initiative which champions Havas Media’s people and work, in turn creating an environment and culture that people are proud of and to which they feel they belong. Natasha is also passionate about ensuring that Havas Media offers the best opportunities to its employees for career progression and work/life blend in the industry, and considers this to be a vital part of her job.

Natasha is an IPA trained industry mentor and actively promotes and supports women in the agency and the industry as a member of WACL (Women in Advertising and Communications London). She also sits on the SuperBrands Council and IPA Media Futures Group.